Uncover the Best Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe with These Saucy Options

Nothing elevates a meal quite like a rich, flavorful homemade pasta sauce. As the clock ticks down toward the dinner hour, you might be tempted to enjoy the convenience of opening a jar, but store-bought sauces often lack the depth and character of a homemade pasta sauce crafted with care and quality ingredients.

Creating your own spaghetti sauce recipe from scratch can be a rewarding experience, with the aroma of simmering tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs filling the kitchen and promising a satisfying meal to come. And as you dig into these recipes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly they come together, using a variety of canned tomato products and then adding the perfect blend of herbs and spices for enhanced taste.

The flexibility of homemade sauce allows you to tailor it to your preference and leaves room for your own original spins. Try your hand at creating your own signature pasta sauces with virtually endless add-ins—from classics like Parmesan and Italian sausage to more upscale alternatives like burrata and pancetta.

Try out these pasta sauce recipes to find your new favorites.

ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE

This is homemade Bolognese sauce just like your grandma used to make…that is, if your grandma was an Italian nonna with a secret family recipe. For the rest of us, it’s what we picture a grandma making, carefully stirring a pot of rich spaghetti sauce with a wooden spoon in a quaint kitchen. You can achieve the same old-world taste in a new-world fashion, with canned tomatoes spiced up with McCormick Garlic Powder, McCormick Oregano Leaves, McCormick Pure Ground Black Pepper and your own “secret”— McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning. This version simmers for just 30 minutes for those who are more of the on-the-go pickleball-playing glamma types.

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

A simple and vibrant take on the classic Italian tomato sauce, this recipe brings together crushed tomatoes, sautéed onions, olive oil and a blend of herbs, including the aromatic McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, into a rich, comforting sauce. Ready in about 35 minutes, it’s perfect for ladling over ziti, lasagna or any pasta craving.

SHRIMP PASTA RECIPE

This tangy tomato sauce brings just the right amount of heat, thanks to McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, which blends perfectly with more traditional Italian spices of McCormick Basil Leaves, McCormick Garlic Powder, McCormick Oregano Leaves, salt and just enough sugar to mellow the acidity of tomatoes and enhance the melding flavors. You’ll add succulent shrimp to the pasta water—no sauté pan needed. This substantial dish is sophisticated enough for a special occasion, but also ideal as a quick weeknight staple. (And after all, shouldn’t every evening feel special?)

VEGGIE SPAGHETTI SAUCE

While most pasta meals rely on a side salad to check the vegetable box, this one has a delightful mélange of squash, zucchini, red onion and mushrooms. You’ll do a quick sauté until they’re tender-crisp and then add tomato paste and an envelope of McCormick Thick And Zesty Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix to make the sauce in minutes. For an even more veggie-centric presentation, serve over zoodles (zucchini noodles) or, of course, complement it with the pasta shape of your choice. (And, yes, definitely add a salad, too.)

THICK AND ZESTY SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Dive into a bold pasta moment with this thick and zesty spaghetti sauce, made effortlessly using the McCormick Thick & Zesty Spaghetti Sauce Mix. Simply stir the mix with water, tomato paste and a splash of oil, bring to a boil, simmer 10 minutes, then ladle over your favorite pasta. Rich flavor and minimal prep makes a classic comfort in a flash.